(This) location is crossing NE 125th to 33rd Ave NE to travel to Fred Meyer or to get into the core commercial shopping areas from the apartments on 32nd and 33rd south of NE 125th. Pedestrians again, must contend with speeding cars on NE 125th and cars turning to get to apartments on 33rd both north and south. Likewise here, the expected new growth in housing and multi-use necessitates improved pedestrian crossings.

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDoT) Response

Pedestrian safety is high priority for SDOT. Marked crosswalks can be an important tool to help people cross the street comfortably, but they are not the best solution at all locations.

Among other intersections, you mention location at NE 125th Street at 33rd Avenue NE Federal guidelines recommend against installing marked crosswalks on high-volume, multi-lane roadways unless additional treatments can also be provided, because a marked crosswalk can actually reduce pedestrian safety by encouraging pedestrians to cross there. A marked crosswalk indicates a preferred crossing location to pedestrians. The traffic volumes on streets like NE 125th St militate against SDOT installing a marked crosswalk without either reducing the number of vehicle travel lanes or installing a traffic signal, or other measures. SDOT has reviewed this location and it does not currently meet the federally established guidelines for a traffic signal. SDOT would redirect pedestrians to either of preferred, signalized crossing locations on NE 125th Street: Lake City Way NE to the west or 35th Avenue NE to the east.

Thank you again for taking the time to write. The Seattle Department of Transportation is committed to making the City of Seattle a better place in which to live and walk, and suggestions from citizens such as you help us to address the transportation issues that we face. If you have additional questions related to pedestrian or bicycle issues, please feel free to contact the Pedestrian and Bicycle Program. We can be reached directly at walkandBike@Seattle.govor by phone at (206) 684-7583.